trapper’s testimony. 197 
thinking their assertion very improbable, de- 
manded how they knew. 
“ We saw her tracks in the sand where she 
came out of the spring,” they replied. 
“ Pooh ! If that’s all the evidence you have, 
you needn’t bet very high on the woman ! The 
tracks were doubtless a boy’s.” 
In answer to this remark one of the buckskin- 
clad reporters drew himself up to his full height, 
which was not diminutive, and, with the playful- 
ness of a grizzly bear, demanded — 
“ See here, mister, do you see them air ? ” 
opening his mouth and pointing to two tobacco- 
stained fangs, “ them’s eye-teeth, and you’ll take 
observation they’re cut clean through.” 
“ Well, yes. Tears like you are through 
teething,” the man replied. 
“I allowl be! and when I sez a thing you 
may stake the drinks that I knows what I’m talkin’ 
’bout. I hain’t watched tracks these thirty years 
without knowin’ what kind of critters they belong 
to ! Them tracks was too narrer for their length 
fur any boy ! ” 
“ Oh,” the Central man replied, “ I wouldn’t 
want to misdoubt your word, but you know there 
ain’t mor’n a dozen or so women in these parts, 
and a trip over there wouldn’t be a likely one 
for any of ’em to take. If they were only tracks 
of naked feet, I don’t quite just see how you 
could tell they weren’t a squaw’s ? ” 
